Amnesty International has condemned the two-year prison sentence handed to former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara, including one year of actual imprisonment and a symbolic fine of 500,000 CFA francs (€762, with just 1 franc going to the Malian state), for charges that include undermining state credibility. The human rights organization is calling for his immediate release, alongside others detained solely for expressing their political views.
« Moussa Mara’s conviction and sentence underscore the Malian authorities’ persistent disregard for the country’s constitutional obligations and international human rights commitments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Mali is a signatory, » stated Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa.
« Rather than silencing dissenting voices, the government must halt its escalating repression of peaceful opposition and authoritarian practices. All individuals currently detained for exercising their right to free speech must be released immediately. Authorities have a duty to respect and uphold the human rights of every person in Mali, including freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. »
Moussa Mara, who served as Prime Minister from April 2014 to January 2015 and leads the opposition party Yéléma, was arrested on August 1st. He faces charges including « undermining state credibility, » « inciting public disorder, » and « opposing legitimate authority. »
His arrest followed a July 4th tweet expressing solidarity with detained activists and politicians. In the post, he referenced a « dark night » and vowed to fight « by all means necessary for the sun to rise. »
The Malian authorities must end their reliance on arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and the abusive weaponization of the justice system to silence peaceful dissent.
Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa
Recent cases of arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances
Journalists and activists have increasingly become targets in the government’s crackdown on critical voices.
On May 8, 2025, journalist El Béchir Thiam, a member of Moussa Mara’s Yéléma party, was abducted by masked men claiming to be intelligence officers. This occurred a day after he publicly criticized the transitional parliament’s decision to grant the military government a new five-year mandate. Thiam’s whereabouts were unknown for months; authorities neither acknowledged his detention nor provided any information. His wife filed a missing persons report on July 17, and he was finally released on September 26.
Clément Dembélé, an anti-corruption activist, was arrested in November 2023 while preparing a press conference to expose recurring power cuts. He was charged with « threatening the life of President Assimi Goïta and his family. » In April 2025, an investigating judge dismissed the charges and ordered his release, yet he remains arbitrarily detained.
In August and September 2025, the UN Independent Expert on Mali condemned the enforced disappearance of El Béchir Thiam and the arbitrary arrest of Clément Dembélé, demanding their immediate and unconditional release.
« The Malian government must cease its use of arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and the misuse of the criminal justice system to suppress peaceful opposition, » emphasized Marceau Sivieude. « Authorities must ensure fair trials and uphold the rule of law. »
Other critical voices silenced since 2023
In March 2023, social media personality Rokiatou Doumbia, widely known as « Rose Vie Chère » or « Tantie Rose, » was arrested for criticizing the deteriorating security situation and rising cost of living following the military takeover. She faced charges of « inciting revolt, » « undermining state credibility, » and « criminal association, » and was sentenced to one year in prison in August 2023. Though she has served her sentence, she remains arbitrarily detained.
In the same month, radio host and activist Mohamed Youssouf Bathily, nicknamed « Ras Bath, » was arrested after calling the death of former Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maïga in detention an « assassination. » In August 2023, he was sentenced on appeal to 18 months in prison for « false accusation of a crime, » a charge related to his criticism of the state. Despite completing his sentence, Ras Bath was re-indicted for « criminal association, » « undermining state credibility, » and « regionalist, racist, and religious crimes » based on the same allegations, and remains in pretrial detention.
In September 2023, activist and transitional council member Adama Diarra, known as « Ben le Cerveau, » was arrested after advocating for a return to civilian constitutional rule. He was charged with « undermining state credibility » and sentenced to two years in prison. In February 2025, his lawyers’ request for provisional release was denied, and he continues to be arbitrarily detained.
Issa Kaou N’Djim, another former transitional council member, was sentenced to two years in prison in November 2024 after questioning the veracity of a statement by Burkinabè authorities regarding a coup attempt. He was arrested following a complaint by Burkinabè officials and charged with « public offense against a foreign head of state. »
Context
The Mali has been under military rule since the 2020 coup against President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. The initially planned 18-month transition has been extended three times, most recently in April 2025 when the authorities announced the dissolution of all political parties and a further five-year extension of the transition period.
